(Fuyang, Anhui, China – July 11, 2025) Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui, has once again come under heavy pressure. Following the criminal detention of Pastor Chang Shun and Elder Ma Tao by local police on July 2, 2025, for “illegal assemblies,” the church’s Pastor Zhang Sen was arrested in Xuzhou on the evening of July 9 and taken back to Fuyang. His wife, Xu Chao, says she still does not know where Pastor Zhang Sen is being held.

Surprise Arrest and Unknown Whereabouts

Xu Chao revealed that Pastor Zhang Sen had recently been staying at a friend’s home in Xuzhou. At around 5:30 p.m. on July 9, they heard knocking and voices outside the door. At 5:56 p.m., Pastor Zhang Sen sent his wife a message saying, “The people outside are prying the lock.” No further messages were received after that. Local Christians in Xuzhou sent Xu Chao photos showing Pastor Zhang Sen being pressed onto the ground by two individuals, hands cuffed behind his back. They brought him into a van with Fuyang license plates, together with a group of people.

On July 10, Xu Chao released a public prayer request letter expressing confusion over why her husband, Pastor Zhang Sen, was arrested neither in Fuyang nor during a gathering. She questioned whether simply being a devout Christian and church pastor is now a reason for arrest. She and their three children miss Pastor Zhang Sen deeply and hope for his early return. She urged Christians to pray that he would walk with the Lord in detention and that justice would prevail in Fuyang.

Ongoing Pressure on Maizhong Reformed Church

Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang is a Presbyterian church, it firmly upholds its stance as a house church and openly refuses to join the government-controlled Three-Self Movement. Pastor Zhang Sen signed the 2018 “Joint Statement: A Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith” initiated by Pastor Wang Yi. In a May 28, 2025 interview with the online prayer meeting China at Five O’Clock, Pastor Zhang Sen stated that signing the declaration was a primary reason for the persecution they faced.

The church first came under attack in August 2021 and has since faced continuous repression. Pastor Zhang Sen became a key target of stability-maintenance efforts, frequently “invited for tea” and subjected to constant surveillance. Since 2023, the persecution faced by the church has escalated. Some home-schooled Christian families attracted heightened government scrutiny, with designated personnel assigned to them and pressured them to join the public school system. Many families have been harassed or forced to relocate. In some cases, locks were broken and homes of Christians were entered illegally, while some were followed. Tracking devices were found under private cars and electric scooters. One brother found three in his vehicle at a repair shop; another discovered a new device on the same spot the day after removing a previous one.

Translator’s Note: Invitation for Tea is a euphemism for being questioned by the police.

Since the church was officially banned in 2023 by the government, the persecution did not stop. About 20 members have been detained to date. Pastor Zhang Sen was previously detained in March 2024 because he and other Christians welcomed and prayed with eight released brothers and sisters outside the detention center. When the police showed Pastor Zhang Sen photos of them praying together, he asked the police: “Did I perhaps commit the crime of praying?” “It is because your prayers were unreported.” The officer replied.

‘Organizing and Funding Unlawful Assemblies’ Used as a Tool to Suppress House Churches

On June 29, 2025, the church’s Sunday service was raided. Pastor Chang Shun and Elder Ma Tao were taken by police and criminally detained on July 2, and are currently held at the Fuyang Detention Center. On the morning of July 2, coworker Brother Yang Zhiyan was also taken by police while on the road and released the following day.

On July 4, a lawyer met with Elder Ma Tao in the detention center. He was charged with “illegal assemblies,” formally named “organizing and funding unlawful assemblies” under Article 290, paragraph 4 of the Criminal Law. This charge refers to repeated organization or funding of unlawful gatherings that seriously disturb public order.

In recent years, many pastors and Christians have been arrested or sentenced under this charge, including:

• Preacher Liang Ziliang (Shaping Street Baptist Church, Heshan City): Criminally detained on June 1, 2018, for leading Christians in evangelism work in a park; further details unknown.
• Preacher Geng Zejun (Church of the Rock/Panshi Church, Huinong District, Shizuishan, Ningxia): Administratively detained in December 2021 for 15 days and later sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison.
• Wang Shunping, Nu Sangdeng, San Luobo (Fugong County, Nujiang): Criminally detained on August 17, 2022 on suspicion of “organizing and funding unlawful assemblies”, and later released on bail in May 7, 2023.
• Chen Wensheng (Christian from Hengyang, Hunan):Administratively detained on August 29, 2023, for 15 days because of preaching the gospel, which was later changed to criminal detention. He was sentenced to 1 year and 7 months on June 20, 2024.
• Preacher Ma Yan (Yinchuan, Ningxia): Taken away on August 9, 2024, during a Sunday service, and was first administratively detained for 10 days, which was later changed to criminal detention on August 20. He was sentenced to 9 months on March 24, 2025, and released on April 17, 2025.

Faith and Hope of Maizhong Reformed Church

Pastor Zhang Sen once humorously shared that many officials and pastors often ask, “Why is your church always the one being persecuted?” He said that before 2021, if asked why they were not targeted like other churches, he would answer, “Because we are too weak.” He believes that although faith among church members did not significantly increase after 2021, God chose them to bear witness in this city, even though they were still weak and had little faith. He hopes God’s will is fulfilled through the process of persecution.

Pastor Zhang Sen believes persecution benefits the soul and expresses willingness to submit to God’s will. The church has many young Christians who are well-trained theologically but unfamiliar with the pious traditions of house churches. Thus, persecution is helpful in their understanding of the way of the cross. Through persecution, the sins of both Christians and pastors are revealed, and God uses this time to purify His church.

Pastor Zhang firmly believes that the church will emerge stronger after persecution. During this time, the congregation insists on praying weekly for other persecuted churches. He says that through persecution, China’s house churches are drawing closer together in prayer. He hopes that in these exercises of endurance and faith, persecution will deepen their love for China.

Early Rain Covenant Church Calls for Prayer

Chengdu’s Early Rain Covenant Church has stated that if the crime of “organizing and funding unlawful assemblies” can be applied, then all house church pastors in China are at risk of arrest and sentencing. Although known convictions under this charge have been relatively light so far, the law allows for sentences of 3 to 7 years for principal offenders and up to 3 years for active participants, along with detention, probation, or deprivation of political rights. Early Rain Covenant Church calls on Christians to pray for Maizhong Reformed Church and all house churches in China.

(Reported by Special Correspondent Ning Meng of ChinaAid)